1st weekend numbers down in Ohio turkey hunting

Apr. 28, 2014

Written by

Dick Martin

CentralOhio.com

The top counties for wild turkey harvest were Coshocton (53), Knox (48), Muskingum (44) and Tuscarawas (42). Last year young hunters bagged 1,784 birds during the brief season.

Older hunters did well too, during the first day of the regular season. They checked in 2,455 birds, down just slightly from last year’s opening day kill of 2,762 gobblers.

This time the top counties were Harrison (82), Ashtabula (76), Belmont (71), and Coshocton (71). There’s time to bag plenty more since the spring season will ruin through Sunday, May 18.

Hunters are reminded that they are required to have a hunting license and a spring turkey permit. The spring season bag limit is one bearded turkey per day, and a second spring turkey permit can be purchased at any time throughout the spring season.

• The turkey kill was down and so were black bear sightings around the state, according to reports received by Division of Wildlife biologists.

There were 158 sightings involving an estimated 74 individual black bears in 2013. In 2012, 224 sightings were received. DOW biologists were able to confirm 54 of the 158 sightings in 2013 or 34 percent.

Five reports were received of a sow with cubs, although none were verified. Trumbull County reported the most sightings.

• Anglers who are growing tired of driving to territory east of Cleveland seeking prime steelhead fishing won’t have to go so far this fall.

The Vermillion River has long had decent steelhead action, but it will be substantially better since the Division of Wildlife released 25,000 yearlings at the Vermillion City Boat Launch. The yearlings are 6- to 9-inches long when stocked, and will grow to a length of 18 inches by the end of their first year.

• ODNR Director James Zehringer announced recently the state will invest more than $88.5 million in capital improvements at Ohio State Parks over the next two years. These funds are not meant to expand Ohio State Parks, but to serve as a step toward improving and updating our parks for the enjoyment of every visitor.

The funding will be used to improve state park facilities and lodges across the state. Additionally, bathrooms and campsites will be updated or replaced through much of the parks system. Employees have been working to identify the most immediate needs and will continue to announce projects as they move through this process.

• Hunters could use silencers on their guns while hunting certain game under a proposal that passed the Ohio House. Representatives voted 73-14 in early April to pass the bill. The Senate still must consider the measure.

A House committee approved the bill last month with bipartisan support after lawmakers examined the devices and listened to silenced and unsilenced weapons. The bill would allow licensed Ohio hunters to use the silencers while hunting certain birds and other wild game, including squirrels, rabbits, and deer.

Only those authorized under state and federal laws could use the suppressors which must be properly registered.

• A lady e-mailed recently to ask a question.

“I have numerous feeders with sunflower seed, mixed with suet and peanuts in my back yard. I also have a finch feeder with thistle seed in it,” she wrote. “I have noticed some of the yellow finches are here, but ignore the thistle seed and are occasionally eating at my platform sunflower feeder. I know I put new seed in, but it has been awhile.

“When I asked the guy at Liberty Mill whether the thistle seed gets bad or spoils, he said it shouldn’t as it is sterilized. Is he correct?”

Does anyone knowledgeable about this question have an answer?

Dick Martin is a retired Shelby biology teacher who has written an outdoor column for more than 20 years. He can be reached at richmart@neo.rr.com.